Lee Kuan Yew Reflects

For nearly five hours over two days this fall, Singapore's Minister Mentor LEE KUAN YEW spoke with TIME's Michael Elliott, Zoher Abdoolcarim and Simon Elegant on everything from China's rise to radical Islam, from American values to Singapore's first family. Lee was thoughtful, animated, defiant, playful, even emotional  and always provocative. Highlights of the conversation:

THE RISE OF CHINATIME:The coming East Asia summit is an unprecedented gathering of Asia's leaders. Do you see it as an epochal moment for the region?LEE: It happened in an unplanned, almost accidental, way. Abdullah...